Plate locking clip assembly



E. P. LACURE PLATE LOCKING CLIP ASSEMBLY Aug. 3 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet l mww HUM Filed June 13, 1946 Aug. 30,1949.

E. P. LACURE PLATE LOCKING CLIP ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16,1946 Aug. 30, 1949 E. P. LACURE PLATE LOCKING CLIP ASSEMBLY 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June l3, 1946 E. P. LACURE PLATE LOCKING CLIPASSEMBLY Aug. 30, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Filed June 13, 1946 Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFF IQE PLATE ROCKING CLIP ASSEMBLY Earl P; Lacure, BattleCreek, Mich, assignor, by mesne assignments; to Goss Printing PressCompany, Chicago, '-Ill., a corporation Illinois Mpiication'June 13,1946, Serial 'No. 676,532 V (01. 101-378) Ti'claims. I

This invention is a novel improvement in Plate locking clip assemblies,and the principal object thereof is to provide a simple,novlandefidicrit plate lockin clip assemblyffor locking a pair ofstereotype tubular printing. plates onto a printing cylinder, myinvention including a novel center clip assembly, end assembly, and 'endclamp assembly, eachv assembly cooperating with the others to lockthepair of plates onto the-cylinder.

Other. minorobiec'ts or the invention will he hereinafter set itorth.

I will explain the invention with reterence to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate one practical -embodiment thereof to enableothers familiar with the-art to'adopt and use .the same;

and will summarize in the-claims the novel dea tures of construction,and novel eombinations of parts, for which protectioniis desh ed.

.In said drawings: 7

Figures .1 and la show an elevation, partly in section, --of .a platecylinder otsa printing press or theslike provided withfmy vi'iol'velcenter clip assembly, end ring-assembly, and end clamp-assembly, forlocking a hair o'frsteneotypetubularplates thereon.

Rig. ,2 :is an enlarged detail sectiomthroughthe end ?-ring- -assembly.

Fig. 3 one. enlarged vertical section through the center clip assembly.I F1Fig]. 4 is a top plan view-ofrtheapartsshown in Fig. :5 is a topplan view of a holdingblock for a center clip, :shown Figs. 3.481Hd =4,:detached.

.6 is aside elevation of the holding rblock Fig. r3 is a side elevationof fthe 'center eu ring, shown i-n'Fi'g. 1 2'; and

Fig. *14 is 'a topp'lan viewer the center clip ring shown in Fig. 12.

As shown in Figures '1 and 1a.,11the plate cylinder Ais adaptedm holda-pair'or stereotype tubu- 2. lar printing plates B andJC, each platehaving its ends beveled as at B and C respectively.

At one endof cylinder A is an end ring 1 (Figures 1 and 72) making asliding 1% upon said cylinder, ring I having its "inner end beveled asat Ia. to engage the leading beveled .end 'B' of printing plate B.Endrin'g l is also provided with a plurality of slots lb extendinglongitudinally from its inner end 'ior the purpose hereinafterdescribed. 7 V

The outer end of the bore of :end ring 1 is enlarged at lc for thereception of a stop ring 2, the underlapping portion of which is adaptedto fill the enlarged portion lo of the bore of rin I, said step ringhaving at its outer end an internal. annular .fiange 2a "adapted to seatin one of a series of annular g'roove's' A; A2 or A3 in cylinderxA soiasto'preyent axial movement of end ring I on cylinder A- Stop ring 2 ismade in. two semi-"circular halves so as to be readily insertablc andremovable :from the grooves A, A2 and A8. It is held from removal fromthe par'ticularfgrome A, A2 and A3 in which it is inserted by means of'the'end ring. .By placing the stop ring '2 in any of the series ofgrooves A, A2. or A3, a greater orless number of which may be provided,theposit'ion of end ring l. on the cylinder maybe adjusted to take careof different lengths of tubular plates B and-C.

Extending longitudinally of cylinder A is .a keyway A4 (Fig. 1)adapted'to receive a key 3 (Fig. 2)., said key .having an upturned end3a adapted to contact "the outer end of stop ring 2. In order'to lockthe end ring I and the stop ring 2 together and 'to prevent rotation ofthe rings I andlaround cylinder A, the key3 is provided with a tappedbore 3b (Fig. 2') receiving a cap screw 4 or the like :passing throughthe end ring I and into the threaded bore 3b, the head of the screw 4seating in an enlarged recess Id in the outer face of end ring I so thatno portion of screw I projects beyondthe periphery of end ring I. Whenscrew '4 is thus engaged, the rings I and 2 as above stated, are lockedagainst rotation around the cylinder A, for the purpose herein'a'ft'erdescribed.

Cylinder A'is provided ad'l'acent "its center with an annular recess A5(Fig. '1) ofsubstantial depth and width, the :recess underlying theadjacent ends of the printing plates "B and C, said recess A5 housingthe center clip assembly shown more particularly in Figs. 1, '3 and 4.The center clip assembly comprises "a center clip ring '5 shown moreparticularly in Figs.- 1'2, '13 and '14, said ring being substantiallycylindrical and made in two semi-cylindrical halves so as to be readilyinsertable and removable from recess A5. Ring is made of good steel andhardened so that it will stand wear and abuse and is replaceable ifnecessary. Ring 5 is of length corresponding to the length of recess A5,and is of internal diameter to suit the reduced diameter of the cylinderin way of recess A5, same having a wall thickness corresponding with thedepth of the recess A5. Each half of ring 5 is provided with bores 5aadjacent ,their ends, as shown more particularly in Figures 12 and 13,for the reception of cap screws (not shown) which pass through the bores51]. and enter threaded bores in the cylinder A to retain the halves inthe recess A5. Preferably the outer ends of the bores 5a are enlarged toreceive the heads of the anchor bolts so that the heads will not projectbeyond the periphery of the ring 5.

In the periphery of center clip ring 5 is an annular series oflongitudinally disposed guideways, each having outer parallel-walledportions 527, and inner parallel-walled enlargements 50, thus formingundercut guide slots, for the pur pose hereinafter described. Adjacentthe ends of the slots 51), 5c farthest removed from end ring I are apair of countersunk bores 5d (Figure 14) for the purpose hereinafterdescribed, while at the end of each slot adjacent the end ring I is acountersunk bore 5e (Figure 1 1) said bores 5d, 5e, being disposedaxially of slots 5b, 5c and extending radially outwardly through thebases of the guide slots.

Within each of the guide slots is an operating block 6, shown moreparticularly in Figures 4, 7 and 8, said block 6 being of less depth andwidth than its related guide slot 51), 5c and having bores 6a (Figure 3)adapted to receive rivets I (Figure3) which pass through the pair ofcountersunk bores 5d in' the center clip ring 5 and into the bores 6a ofblocks 6 to secure the operating blocks 6 in position therein. As shownin Figures 1, 3 and 4, the blockis mounted adjacent the end of the guideslots 51), 5c farthest removed from end ring I,' and each operatingblock 6 has an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 6b extendingtowards the end ring I, said inclined portions 6b terminating as 'at 60(Figures 3 and '7) in a plane parallel with the periphery of cylinder Abut below the surface thereof, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

As shown in Figure 4, each operating block 6 is disposed axially of theguide slot 52), 5c and is of less width than said slot. Slidably mountedwith respect to each operating block 6 is a center clip 8, shown moreparticularly in Figures 3, 9, and 11, said center clip 8 being ofsubstantially inverted U-shape (Figure 10) providing in its under side aslot. 8a of width slightly greater than the width of the operating block6 upon which the center clip 8 rests, the legs of the clip havingenlargements 811 at their lower ends making a sliding fit-within thelower wider portion 50 of the guide slot 5?), 5c, permitting the centerclips to be shifted radially inwardly within the guide slots from theoperative or projected position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and3,to the retracted position shown in dotted lines in Figiue 1. The end ofcenter clip 8 removed from the end ring I is provided with a connectingbridge 80 seating upon the end So of the operating block 6 when inprojected or operative position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 3,and the inner end of the bridge 80 is beveled upwardly as at 811 on anangle corresponding with the intion 802. The portion of center clip 8directly above enlargements 8b is of a width and height adapted to makea sliding fit within the outer portion 5b of the guide slot 5b, 5c, andupon the top of bridge is a lug 8e having both ends undercut as at 8 8gto engage the adjacent beveled ends B and C of printing plates B and Cwhen in operative clamping position. The locking lug 8e has its outerface formed arcuately to conform with the curvature of the cylinder A;and preferably the ends of the locking lug 8e project sidewise beyondthe sides of the bridge 80, as shown more particularly in Figure 10 toincrease the width of the plate gripping face of the lug.

In order that the center clip 8 may be projected out of its guide slot5b, 5c, the walls of the outer portions 51) of the slot are increased inwidth, as at 59 (Figures 13 and 14) to permit the sidewise extendingends of lug 8e to pass into and out of the guide slot when the center.clip is actuated as hereinafter described.

In order that the undercut edges 8 8g of the center clip 8 may bettergrip the beveled ends B, C of the plates B and C, I preferably providepins 9 which are passed upwardly through bores 8h in the bridge 80 ofthe center clip, the bores having their axes substantially bisecting theangles at the lower inner ends of beveled portions 8], 8g, so that theprojecting sides of pins 9 will form locking lugs to enter into and gripthe soft metal of the beveled ends B, C of the stereo type plates, andthereby ofiset any tendency of the plates B and C to shift laterallywith respect to the locking lugs 8e, and to prevent any tendency of theplates B and C to rotate on the cylinder A under operating conditions.

The end of the center clip 8 adjacent end ring I is preferably extendedbeyond the bridge 80 in the form of parallel side walls, and between thesaid walls is mounted a block Ill shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, saidblock being secured by pins or the like I (la, I01) between the parallelwalls of center clip 8. The upper face of block I0 is beveled downwardlyas at I00 (Figure 3) at an angle conforming with that of the beveled end8d of bridge 80 and the slope of the under side of the inclined portion61) of the operating block 6, block I I] thus forming a part of thecenter clip 8 and moving therewith.

Block I0 is provided on its outer end with an ear Ifld which isperforated as at Ifle (Figure 4) for pivotal connection with anoperating rod II for the center clip, said rod I I having an ear I la,Figure 4, which is perforated as at Ilb, a pair of links I2, connectingears Ila and Ifld, with pins I3 and I4 passing through the links andthrough the perforated ears, thus causing the center clip to moveaxially of the guide slot when rod l l is actuated while permitting theclip 8 to shift vertically within the slot 5b, 5c, and enlargement 59.

As shown in Figure 3, the distance between the inclined surfaces I00 and8d of the clip 8 is slightly greater than the thickness of the inclinedportion 6b of the operating block 6. Thus, in the position shown inFigure 3, bridge 80 of the center clip is resting upon the horizontalouter end portion 60 of the operating block 6 and in such position thelug 8e is projected through enlargement 5g out of the guideway 5b, 50,into plateengaging position. When, however, the operating rod II ismoved to the right (Figures 1 and 3) the center clip 8 will be shiftedtherewith until theunder side of the bridge 80 passes beyond the tar endof the horizontal portion =60 or operating block 6, whereupon the centerclip 8 will :be guidedrby sliding contact of the inclined 15.111- .facelilo-and. 8d down the inclined portion to of operating block 6 into theretracted position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, at which time thetop of locking lug "B6 will have passed wholly into enlargement g andwill be housed wholly elow the surface of the cylinder A.

Within each guide slot 5b, at the end adjacent the operating .rod Ill isa holding block I5, shown more particularly in Figures 1, 3, 5 and -6,thersame being of width to seat in the lower widened portion 50 of theguide slot and being secured therein by means of'a rivet It (Figure 3)passing through the countersunk bore 5e jinthe and of the guideslot andinto a bore I501. in the block, said block having a downwardly inclinedpentra-l portion I 51) adapted to be 'slidably engaged :by the :underside of the block Iil when the center clip is shifted towards the right(Figure 3). Holding block In forms a .support for the adjacent end ofcenter clip 6 when the latter is in protected plate-holding position, asshown in Figure 3.

Operating rod II isadapted to be actuated by the leading edge of theplate B when inserted from the end of the cylinder A opposite from endring 1 into its proper position on the cylinder A. For this purpose eachrod II is housed in a corresponding longitudinal slot A6 (Figure 1) inthe periphery of cylinder Aoii'set from the keyway A4 for key 3,hereinbefore referred to, and each operating rod I I extends beyond theleading end B of the plate B and beyond the end ring I and stop ring 2,and is provided with a series of tapped bores I I0, as shown in Figure'1, opposite the leading edge of plate B into any one of which an Allenset screw its: is adapted to be placed, said set screw I6:r beinginserted through the slot in, hereinbefore referred to, in the endring Ias .shown in Figure 1. Thus the set screw Ilia: may be adjusted .on theoperating rod II to conform with different lengths of plates B.Operatingtrod I I is slotted adjacent the collar 5 as at Hot rEigure 1):and a screw I! (Figure 1) is passed through the slot I Id and is tappedinto a threaded boretin icylinder A, screw 'I'l serving to guide theinner end :of the operating rod iI while permitting :axial movement .ofthe operating rod II in its groove A6.

The center clip assembly operates as follows:

TheAllenset screw Ifizc is first adjusted .in tone of the tapped holesHe in accordance with the length of the particular plate B. Before theplate B is slipped on the cylinder the operating rod 1H would be movedto the right (Fig. .1) its maximumextent so as to retract the centerclip 8 below the periphery of the cylinder A. The plate B would then beslipped over the end of the cylinder opposite from the end ring I andslid towards the end ring assembly I and 2, which latter has previouslybeen properlyvlocated in grooves A, A2, or A3 with respect to the lengthof the plate B. As the leading edge B of the plate B engages the Allenscrew its the operating .rod II will be shifted thereby so that when theleading edge :13 engages the end ring I, as shown in Fig. 1, the centerclip 8 will have been shifted therewith from the dotted-linepositionshown in Fig. 1 to the full-line position shown in Fig. ,-1 inwhich latter position the lug 8c is projected into position to engagethe trailing end :B' of plate 'Bbut is spaced therefrom until the endclamp, assembly (hereinafter de- 6 scribed llS actuated at the401313051128 end of the cylinder. The :center clip '8 :moving about llengthwise pf theacylinderzmoves :to the topsof the operating :hlock 1Band then travels horizontally in the slot 512, 5c the remaining distanceinto grippingmositien: between the "two printing plates.plateic'wouldthen he slipped over the same end :of the .cylinderiintotheposition shown in Fig.

11 inwhich itsfleadingedge'C' engagesrthe beveled edge ray of scenterclip ;8 since the clip {I has been raised into operative position by theplate B :previously placed upon the v:cylinder A.

The lengthiof -the.slot 'I-bin end ring vI permitsuthezrod II to befurther shifted 'totheleft (Fig. 1-) while the :end :clip assembly atthe opposite end of the cylinder :isbeing actuated to sesurely lock theplates .Band C on the cylinder.

end clip assembly at the opposite end 'of the :cylinder :A isillustrated in Fig. la, and as shown that end of the cylinder is reducedin :diameter as-iat :A'i, the :reduced portion extending under thetrailingedge C of plate C, forming a shoulderAB against-whichis placed aspaceriring 20 which bears squarely against the shoulder 2A8. Spacerring has a bore'conforming with that of the reduced portion Alofthe'cylinder and :an external diameter conforming with that of the mainbody of cylinder A. Spacer ring 29 has anannular series of bores 25aadjacent :the periphery thereof forming journals ;for the :inner ends ofplate clamp screws ZI which have areguced cylindrical ends Z-tajournaled in the bores Ila.

Upon thejreduced portion A? beyond .the:s pa.cer ring -29 is a plateclamp ring .22 of length to extendbeyond the trailing .end of'plateC,clamp :ring 22 havingfa bore slidably fitting the reduced portion A"! of:cylinder Aand having an external diameter slightly less than that of"the main body of cylinder A. Plate clampring 22 is provided withlongitudinally disposed peripheral slots 22a in which the plate clampscrews 2i are housed, and'jalateclamp ring 22 is secured to the cylinderA-bylmeans-of bolts 23 having heads itsadisposed in bones 22c extendinginwardly from the outer end of ring 22., said bolts being threaded intotapped :hores .Ae'in the shoulder A8 of the cylinder A, whereby the:plate clamp ring 22 is securelyimounted on the cylinder preventing samefrom aerial 01 rotary :movement thereon.

At thezouter end 1Qf=the plate clamp :ring 22 is an end plate 24 :of-less diameter than the cylinder A, said end plate first :being securedto ring 22 :or cylinder :A any desired manner, said end plate hayingbearings '24s .for the outer .ends of the plate clamp screws :21, saidscrews having collars 21h engaging the end plate 24 to prevent axialmovzeznent of the :screws 2!. The outer ends of thenczews 2.! extendthrough the end plate 2d and are-provided-withnon-circular outerends'ZiIc for engagement with .a wrench or the like, whereby the screws2.=I may be readily rotated.

Within each slot :2 2a in the plate 'clamp'ring 22 is a :plate :clamp:25 "threaded upon the related operatingscrew-ZI .and having an undercutlooking lug .25a:adapted toengage the trailing end C of platefl, thelocking lug25a whenin the operative position shown in Fig. 1a projectingout of the :slot 2 2a and hence above the diameter of the major portionof-cylinder A. :Each slot .ZZaihas at its :outer ends :a recess 22d(Fig. 1a) :of such depth thatwhen the screw 2 isrotated to bringtheclamp 2'5 apposite the recess 22d, the :clamp may 2135 rotated on thescrew so as to bring the lochineslugfifiawithin the recess 2201.111which :po-

sition no portion of the clamp 25 or operating screw will lie beyond theperiphery of the major portion of the cylinder A, whereby the plates Band C may be slipped over the end clamp assembly.

Obviously, when the screw 2| is rotated to shift the clamp 25 towardsthe plate C, the plates B and C with the interposed center clips 8 willbe shifted to bring the leading edge B of plate B into firm engagementwith the end ring I at the opposite end of the cylinder and the partswill be securely locked in position.

While I have illustrated but one of the center clips 8 with itsoperating rod II, and only one of the end clamps 25 with its operatingmechanism, obviously as many clamps and clips may be provided in anannular series as may be desired around the periphery of the cylinder,each of the said assemblies operating in the same manner hereindescribed.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, forobviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for looking a pair of substantially tubular printing plates orthe like onto a cylinder, comprising an end ring assembly including anend ring adapted to engage the leading edge of the first plate, saidring being mounted adjacent one end of the cylinder and adapted to belocked in adjusted position thereon; a center clip assembly includingcenter clips disposed between adjacent edges of the first and secondplates adapted to be projected beyond the periphery of the cylinder andthen parallel to same when in operative position and to be retractedwithin the periphery of the cylinder in another position thereof; meansfor projecting the center clips actuated by the placing of the firstplate on the cylinder into substantially normal position; and an endclamp assembly at the opposite end of the cylinder including a groovedsleeve with end clamps in the grooves adapted to engage the trailingedge of the second plate and adapted to be shifted to compress the pairof plates with the interposed center clips together and against the endring.

2. In means as set forth in claim 1, said end ring being disposed aroundthe cylinder and having an enlarged internal recess in its outer end;said end ring assembly also including a pair of semi-circular stop ringsections adapted to fill the enlarged recess in the end ring and toencircle the cylinder, said stop ring sections having internal annularshoulders adapted to engage one of a series of spaced annular grooves inthe cylinder.

3. In means as set forth in claim 1, said end ring being disposed aroundthe cylinder and having an enlarged internal recess in its outer end;said end ring assembly also including a pair of semi-circular stop ringsections adapted to fill the enlarged recess in the end ring and toencircle the cylinder, said stop ring sections having internal annularshoulders adapted to engage one of a series of spaced annular grooves inthe cylinder; said cylinder having a longitudinal keyway under said endring assembly; a key in said keyway underlying the end ring and stopring, said key having an upturned flange contacting the outer face ofthe stop ring; and a screw transfixing the end ring and the said key.

4. In means as set forth in claim 1, said center clip assemblycomprising a pair of collar sections secured in an annular recess in thecylinder underlying the adjacent ends of the pair of plates; said collarsections having longitudinal guidways in their peripheries provided withenlargements at their lower ends; operating blocks of less width, depth,and length than the guideways axially mounted within the slots at theends thereof removed from the end ring, said blocks each havingoutwardly inclined portions extending towards the end rings; and saidcenter clips having slots in their lower ends seating upon the upperfaces of the inclined portions of their related blocks and havingportions adapted to engage the undersides of the said inclined portionsof the operating blocks.

5. In means as set forth in claim 1, said projecting means comprisingrods housed in longitudinal peripheral slots in the cylinder, said rodseach having one end pivotally connected with their related center clipand its other end adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of the firstplate, whereby movement of said plate will shift the center clips fromretracted position into projected position when the first plate isshifted into substantially normal position on the cylinder.

6. In means as set forth in claim 1, said center clip assemblycomprising a pair of collar sections secured in an annular recess in thecylinder underlying the adjacent ends of the pair of plates; said collarsections having longitudinal guideways in their peripheries providedwith enlargements at their lower ends; operating blocks of less width,depth, and length than the guideways axially mounted within the slots atthe ends thereof removed from the end ring, said blocks each havingoutwardly inclined portions extending towards the end rings; said centerclips having slots in their lower ends seating upon the upper faces ofthe inclined portions of their related blocks and having portionsadapted to engage the undersides of the said inclined portions; and saidprojecting means comprising rods housed in slots in the cylinder, saidrods each having one end pivotally connected with their related centerclip and its other end adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of thefirst plate, whereby movement of said plate will shift the center clipsfrom retracted position into projected position when the first plate isshifted into substantially normal position on the cylinder.

7. In means as set forth in claim 1, the end of the cylinder in way ofthe end clamp assembly being reduced in diameter; and said end clampassembly also including a plate clamp ring on the reduced end underlyingthe trailing end of the second plate and having longitudinally disposedslots in its periphery, said slots having recesses at their outer ends;means for securing the clamp ring to the cylinder; screw shaftsjournaled in bearings in each of the slots; said end clamps beingmounted on said screw shafts and having lugs adapted to engage thetrailing edge of the second plate; and said end clamps being rotatableon the screw shafts, whereby when positioned above the recesses the lugsmay be retracted therein so as to lie within the periphery of thecylinder.

8. In means as set forth in claim 1, the end of the cylinder in way ofthe end clamp assembly being reduced in diameter; and said end clampassembly also including a spacer collar on the reduced end within thetrailing end of the second plate and provided with an annular series ofbores adjacent its periphery; a plate clamp ring on the reduced endbeyond the spacer collar and underlying the trailing end of the secondplate and having longitudinally disposed slots in its periphery alignedwith said bores in the spacer collar, said slots having recesses attheir outer ends; an end gnome plate on the reduced end beyond the clampring having bores aligned with the slots; means for securing the spacercollar, clamp ring, and end plate to the cylinder; screw shafts in eachof the slots journaled in the bores in the spacer collar and end plate;said end clamps being mounted on said screw shafts and having lugsadapted to engage the trailing edge of the second plate; and said endclamps being rotatable on the screw shafts, whereby when positionedabove the recesses the lugs may be retracted therein so as to lie withinthe periphery of the cylinder.

9. A center clip assembly for looking a pair of substantially tubularprinting plates or the like onto a cylinder, comprising longitudinalguideways in the cylinder periphery underlying the adjacent ends of thepair of plates, said guideways having enlargements at their lower ends;operating blocks of less width, depth, and length than the guidewaysaxially mounted within the slots at the ends, said blocks havingoutwardly inclined portions extending in the direction of movement ofthe first plate into position onto the cylinder; and center clips insaid guideways having slots in their lower ends seating upon the upperfaces of the inclined portions of their related blocks and havingportions adapted to engage the undersides of the said inclined portions;and means for shifting the clips axially of the guideways.

10. In an assembly as set forth in claim 9, said center clips havingtransverse locking lugs on their upper faces of greater width than theouter portions of the guideways; and the walls of the guideways beingrecessed in way of the lugs to permit the lugs to pass into and out ofthe guideways.

11. In an assembly as set forth in claim 9, said center clips havingtransverse locking lugs on their upper faces undercut to engage theadjacent ends of the pair of plates; and pins mounted in bores in thelugs disposed substantially normal to the surface of the cylinder atsubstantially the lower ends of said undercut portions and adapted toenter into the metal of the plates when clamped by the lugs.

12. In an assembly as set forth in claim 9, the upper ends of theoutwardly inclined portions of the operating blocks terminating inplanes parallel with but below the periphery of the cylinder, therebypermitting horizontal movement of the clips in the guideways after beingprojected into operative position out of the guideways.

13. A center clip assembly for looking a pair of substantially tubularprinting plates or the like onto a cylinder, comprising a pair of collarsections secured in an annular recess in the cylinder underlying theadjacent ends of the pair of plates; said collar sections havinglongitudinal guideways in their peripheries, said guideways beingprovided with enlargements at their inner portions; operating blocks ofless width, depth, and length than the guideways axially mounted withinthe slots at the ends, said blocks having outwardly inclined portionsextending in the direction of movement of the first plate into positiononto the cylinder; and center clips in said guideways having slots intheir lower ends seating upon the upper faces of the inclined portionsof their related blocks and having portions adapted to engage theundersides of the said inclined portions; and means for shifting theclips axially of the guideways.

14. In means for locking a pair of substantially tubular printing platesonto a cylinder, comprising an end ring on the cylinder adjacent one endthereof adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of the first plate; acenter clip assembly includin center clips disposed between adjacentedges of the pair of plates adapted to be projected beyond the peripheryof the cylinder and the parallel to same when in operative position andto be retracted within the periphery of the cylinder in another positionthereof; and means for projecting the center clips actuated by theplacing of the first plate on the cylinder into substantially normalposition.

15. In means as set forth in claim 14, said projecting means comprisingrods housed in longitudinal peripheral slots in the cylinder, said rodseach having one end pivotally connected with their related center clipand its other end adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of the firstplate, whereby movement of said plate will shift the center clips fromretracted position into projected position when the first plate isshifted into substantially normal position on the cylinder.

16. In means as set forth in claim 14, said end ring having longitudinalslots in its plate engaging edge; and said projecting means comprisingrods housed in longitudinal slots in the cylinder below the slots in theend ring, said rods each having one end pivotally connected with itsrelated center clip and its other end underlying the end ring, a setscrew insertable into one of a series of tapped pores in the rodunderlying the end ring and leading edge of the first plate, said setscrew being adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of the firstplate, whereby movement of said plate will shift the center clip fromretracted position into projected position when the first plate isshifted into substantially normal position on the cylinder.

17. An end clamp assembly for looking a tubular printing plate onto acylinder having a reduced end, comprising a spacer collar on the reducedend within the trailing end of the plate and provided with an annularseries of bores adjacent its periphery; a plate clamp ring on thereduced end beyond the spacer collar and underlying the trailing end ofthe second plate and having longitudinally disposed slots in itsperiphery aligned with said bores in the spacer collar, said slotshaving recesses at their outer ends; and end plate on the reduced endbeyond the clamp ring having bores aligned with the slots; means forsecuring the spacer collar, clamp ring, and end plate to the cylinder;screw shafts in each of the slots journaled in the bores in the spacercollar and end plate; and end clamps mounted on said screw shafts andhaving lugs adapted to engage the trailing edge of the plate; and saidend clamps being rotatable on the screw shafts whereby when positionedabove the recesses the lug may be retracted therein so as to lie withinthe periphery of the cylinder.

EARL P. LACURE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,511,716 Bechman Oct. 14, 19242,104,854 Dean et a1, Jan. 11, 1938

